Catchbar mechanism for knitting machines



1 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,779,177

CATCHBAR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Jan. 29, 1957 Filed April 27, 1955 4 sheets sheet 1 llllllll INVENTOR. Herbert ErickHae/mel WA/v4 ATTORNEY.

Jan. 29, 1957 H. E. HAEHNEL CATCHBAR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 2'7, 1955 F LlE 'E INVENTOR. Herberi Erich Haehnel A fl/0%- ATTORNEY.

Jan. 29, 1957 H. E. HAEHNEL 2,779,177

CATCHBAR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Filed April 27, 1955 4 sheets-sheet s /07 w 92 96 ma 7 INVENTOR. HerberL'rz'ch Haelmel ATTORNEY.

Jan. 29, 1957 H. E. HAEHNEL CATCHBAR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 27, 1955 V E Ri M m w A 1/ L D M w Y B M M 0 M q 7 9 0 CATCHBAR MECHANISM FOR KNITTING MACHINES Application April 27, 1955, Serial No. 504,188

8 Claims. (Cl. 66-110) This invention relates to improvements in the catchbar mechanism of full-fashioned or other straight bar knitting machines and more particularly to means for constantly changing the point of engagement between the catchbar and the sinkers and dividers during the operation of such machines.

In the operation of the usual full-fashioned knitting machines to form yarn into loops, the yarn is first sunk or indented between alternate pairs of needles by sinkers which are slurred forwardly by a slurcam reciprocated in opposite directions relative to the sinkers by the coulier mechanism of the machine. Following the sinking or indenting of the yarn by the last sinker, dividers which are alternately spaced with respect to the sinkers and which have vertical portions engaged in a slot in a catchbar, are advanced by the catchbar to indent the yarn between the remaining pairs of needles and equally divide the yarn between all of the needles. To perform this indenting and dividing action the catchbar must exert considerable pressure against the dividers and while continuing to exert such pressure, the catchbar is lowered to engage vertical portions of sinkers in the slot of the catchbar so that the remaining movements of both sinkers and dividers, in forming the loops, are simultaneously effected by the catchbar. During this lowering of the catchbar, the sliding engagement between the thin edges of the dividers and the same points on the advancing surface of the catchbar soon cuts or wears grooves in the advancing surface thereby requiring frequent adjustments or replacement of the catchbar to maintain the correct function of the dividers in the formation of the loops.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide means in a full-fashioned knitting machine which will overcome the above mentioned and other difficulties in the operation of the catchbar.

Another object of the invention is to provide means in a full-fashioned knitting machine to operate the catchbar in a manner to distribute the wear caused by the dividers over a greater portion of the surface of the catchbar to thereby increase the operating life of the catchbar.

A further object of the invention is to provide means to shift the catchbar lengthwise to and fro to thereby change the point of engagement between the catchbar and dividers.

A still further object of the invention is to provide means to shift the catchbar lengthwise to change the point of engagement between the catchbar and dividers which means is operated by a reciprocating part of the machine.

Still another object of the invention is to provide means to progressively and continuously move the catchbar lengthwise in opposite directions to change the point of engagement between the catchbar and the dividers, which means is operated by the coulier mechanism during predetermined reciprocations thereof.

United States Patent@ With these and other objects in view which will become apparent from the following detailed description of the illustrative embodiment of the invention vshown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and cooperation of parts, as hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view taken tratnsversely through a portion of a full-fashioned knitting machine showing mechanism for shifting the catchbar transversely to the sinker-head according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along. the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a view on an enlarged scale similar to a portion of Fig. 1 and showing the means for shifting the catchbar;

Fig. 5 is a plan view on an enlarged scale of the mechanism taken in the direction of the arrows 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view on an enlarged scale taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 7 is a view taken in the direction of the arrows 77 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 88 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 9-9 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 10 is a view taken substantially along the line 1010 of Fig. 7, parts being shown broken away and in cross section.

Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings there is shown a portion of a usual multi-section full-fashioned knitting machine including a transverse center frame 10, a center bed 12 and a camshaft 15. The center bed 12 together with the usual front beam, back beam and front bed (not shown) extend lengthwise of the machine and are secured to the center frames and end frames (not shown) to maintain the frames in spaced relation along the machine. The center bed 12 carries a sinker-head 16 for each section of the machine having a base member 17 and a cap member 20 which are provided with aligned slots in which sinkers 21 and dividers 22 are slidably carried in the usual manner. The sinkers 21 and dividers 22 are advanced and retracted to form yarn into loops around needles 25 carried in a bar, a portion of which is shown at 26.

The sinkers 21 are advanced in the sinker-head 16 by jacks 27 which are operated by a slurcam 30 carried in a slurcam box or housing 31 mounted for sliding movement on a bar 32 extending along the machine and fixed on the center bed 12. The slurcam box 31 for each section is secured to a connecting bar 35 which is attached to and reciprocated by the coulier mechanism of the machine (not shown) to slur the jacks 27 and advance the sinkers. The dividers 22 are advanced and retracted in the sinker-head 16 by a catchbar 36 which is provided with a slot 38 for engaging the backs of the dividers in the usual manner. The catchbar 36 carries spaced arms 37 each of which is pivotally and slidably mounted on a stud 39 (Fig. 2) in a lever 40 secured to a shaft 41 pivotally mounted in bearings carried on the frame members 10 in a usual manner. The shaft 41 also has cam levers 42 fixed thereto which are provided with cam followers 45 for engaging cams 46 on the camshaft 15.

The catchbar 36 is adapted to be lowered to engage the backs of the sinkers 21 in the slot 38 to retract and advance the sinkers with the dividers 22. For so lowering the catchbar 36, each arm 37 is provided with an extension 47, which has pivotal engagement with a vet-- tical link 50 pivotally and slidably carried on a pin 49 (Fig. 3) fixed in an arm 51 secured to a shaft 52. Cam levers 55 also secured to the shaft 52 carry followers 56 for engagement with cams 57' on the camshaft 15, the cams operating the levers and shaft to raise and lower the arms 47 and catchbar 36.

Upon the start of the fonmation of the loops the needles are in their high position and as the yarn is fed across the noses of the sinkers 21 and dividers 22, the sinkers are avanced by the slur cam to sink the yarn between alternate needles. When the last sinker has been advanced, the catchbar 36 is advanced by levers 40 and 42 and the cams 46 to sink or divide the yarn between the remaining needles. During this advance of the catchbar 36 considerable pressure is exerted between the trailing or pushing surface of the slot 38 and the backs of the dividers. With the catchbar 36 still maintaining pressure against the dividers, it is lowered so that the backs of the sinkers 21 also enter the slot 38 and the catchbar is then operated to retract and advance both sinkers and dividers as the loops are formed and to return the sinkers and dividers to fully retracted position for the start of the next course of loops. The repeated vertical sliding engagement between the dividers and the same points of the pushing edge within the slot 38 of the catchbar 36 soon wears grooves in the pushing edge which results in defective operation of the dividers unless the catchbar is repaired or replaced.

In order to reduce the wear in the slot 38 to a minimum and therefore greatly extend the life of the catchbar means are provided according to the instant invention to progressively shift the catchbar to and fro along its longitudinal axis to constantly change the points of contact between the pushing edge and the divider backs. Preferably the means for shifting the catchbar along its length includes a bracket secured to the catchbar 36 by bolts 61 (Figs. 4 and 5). The bracket 60 is provided with arms 62 having facing side walls 65 for engagement with flat side walls 66 of a bushing or collar 67 (Fig. 6). The collar 67 is rotatably carried on a stud 70 secured in one arm 71 of a lever 72, the collar being positioned on the stud between a head portion 73 of the stud and the arm 71-. The lever 72 is pivotally mounted on a stud 75 secured in a bracket 76 secured by bolts 77 to a part of the machine frame, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7.

The lever 72 has a downwardly extending bifurcated portion 80 which is provided with facing side walls 81 engaging flat side walls 82 of a bushing or collar 85. The collar 85 is rotatably mounted on an enlarged portion 86 of a stud 87 which has a portion 94) reduced in diameter in relation to the portion 86 for rotatable engagement in a bearing portion 89 of the bracket 76. The collar 85 is positioned on the portion 86 between a head 91 of the stud 87 and the bracket 76 (Fig. 8). As shown in Fig. 10, the axis of the portion 86 of the stud 87 is eccentric to the axis of the portion for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The stud also has a portion 92 of a reduced diameter with respect to the portion 90, the portion 92 being concentric to the axis of the portion 96. The portion 92 of the stud 87 extends beyond the bearing portion 89 and has a toothed ratchet wheel 95 secured thereto as by set screw 96, as shown in Fig. 8.

The ratchet wheel 95 and stud 87 is rotated step by step by a pawl 97 which is pi-votally carried on a stud 1th secured to a pawl lever 191, the pawl being biased into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel by a spring 102 connected between the pawl and pawl lever (Fig. 7). The pawl lever 16]. is mounted for oscillating movement on a hub portion 1% of the ratchet wheel 95, the pawl lever being held in position on the hub portion by' a plate 106 secured to the hub portion by screws, one of-which is shown at 137 in Fig. 8. The pawl lever 101 has an. arm- 110 adaptedto be engaged by a finger 111, secured to'the connecting bar 35, near the end of each reciprocating movement of the connecting bar toward the i left, as viewed in Fig. 9, the finger being set on the connecting bar to oscillate the pawl lever and pawl 97 to turn the ratchet wheel 95 and stud 87 a distance of one tooth of the ratchet wheel.

The pawl lever 191 has upper and lower projecting fingers 112 and 115, respectively which carry adjusting screw and lock nut devices 116 for engagement with a projecting portion 117' of the bracket 76 (Figs. 7 and 8). The lower device 116 engages the underside of the portion 117 to limit the counterclockwise movement of the pawl lever 10?. to turn the ratchet wheel 95 and the upper device 116 limits the clockwise movement of the pawl lever as viewed in Figs. 7 and 9. A spring 120 connected between the pawl lever 101 and a stud 121 on the bracket 76 (Figs. 7 and 10) normally turns the pawl lever to resiliently hold the upper device 116 in engagement with the portion 117 except when the arm 110 is engaged by the finger 111. A detent 122 slidably carried in a portion 125 of the bracket 76 is biased by a spring 126 into engagement with the tooth of the ratchet wheel 95 to prevent accidental movements of the ratchet wheel in opposite directions. A pin 127 in the detent 122 engages in a slot 13% in the portion 1255 (Figs. 9 and 10) to prevent turning movement of the detent in the portion 125.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the pawl lever 101 and pawl 97 is actuated at the end of each movement of the connecting bar 35 to the left (Fig. 9) to rotate the ratchet wheel 95 and stud 37 step by step in the counterclockwise direction. Rotation of the stud 87 causes the eccentric portion 86 of the stud to turn the lever 72 alternately in clockwise and counterclockwise directions to constantly shift the catchbar in small increments along its long axis or transversely to the sinkerheads 16 to thereby constantly change the point of contact between the catchbar and the sinkers 21 and dividers 22 within the limits of the overall movement of the catchbar as determined by the eccentricity of the portion 36. Furthermore, it will be obvious that the mechanism and operation may readily be changed to vary the overall extent of movement of the catchbar and to vary the frequency of the overall movements of the catchbar as desired.

It will be understood that the improvements specifically shown and described, by which the above described results are obtained, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

1 claim:

1. In a knitting machine having a sinker-head, sinkers anddividers having sliding movement in said sinkerhead, a catchbar, a slot in said catchbar in which said dividers are engaged, means for horizontally moving said catchbar to move said dividers in said sinker-head, means for vertically moving said catchbar to engage. said sinkers in said slot for movement with said catchbar, and means for moving said catchbar in opposite directions transversely to its said horizontal movement to change the point of engagement of said sinkers and dividers in said slot, said last named means including a lever connected to said catchbar and eccentric means for oscillating said lever in opposite directions.

2. in a knitting machine having a sinker-head, sinkers and dividers having sliding movement in said sinker-head, a catchbar, a slot in said catchbar in which said dividers are engaged, means for horizontally moving said catchbar to move said dividers in said sinker-head, means for vertically moving said catchbar to engage said sinkers in said slot for movement with said catchbar, and means for moving said catchbar in opposite directions transversely to said horizontal movement to change the point of engagement of said sinkers and dividers in said slot, said last named means including a pivoted lever connected to said catchbar, eccentric means for oscillating said pivoted lever in opposite directions and pawl and ratchet means for rotating said eccentric means.

3. In a knitting machine having a sinker-head, sinkers and dividers having sliding movement in said sinkerhead, a catchbar, a slot in said catchbar in which said dividers are engaged, cam and lever means for horizontally moving said catchbar to move said dividers in said sinker-head, cam and lever means for vertically moving said catchbar to engage said sinkers in said slot for movement by said catchbar, and means for horizontally moving said catchbar in opposite directions transversely to said horizontal movement of the catchbar to change the point of engagement of said sinkers and dividers in said slot, said last named means including a pivoted lever connected to said catchbar, eccentric means for oscillating said pivoted lever in opposite directions, a pawl and ratchet means for rotating said eccentric means and a reciprocating member for operating said pawl and ratchet means.

4. In a knitting machine having a sinker-head, sinkers and dividers in said sinker-head, a catchbar, a slot in said catchbar in which said dividers are engaged, cam and lever means for horizontally moving said catchbar to move said dividers in said sinker-head, cam and lever means for vertically moving said catchbar to engage said sinkers in said slot for movement by said catchbar, and means for moving said catchbar in opposite directions transversely to said horizontal movement of the catchbar to change the point of engagement of said sinkers and dividers in said slot, said last named means including a pivoted lever connected to said catchbar, a rotatable eccentric for oscillating said pivoted lever in opposite directions, a reciprocating member and means operated by said member during alternate reciprocations thereof for rotating said eccentric.

5. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having needles, a fixed sinker-head, sinkers and dividers carried in said sinker-head, means for advancing said sinkers between said needle, :1 catchbar, and means for horizontally moving said catchbar transversely of said sinker-head to advance said dividers between said needles in combination with means for horizontally moving said catchbar longitudinally of said sinker-head.

6. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having needles, a fixed sinker-head, sinkers and dividers carried in said sinker-head, means for advancing said sinkers between said needles, a catchbar, and means for horizontally moving said catchbar transversely of said sinker-head to advance said dividers between said needles in combination with means for horizontally moving said catchbar in both directions longitudinally of said sinker-head.

7. In a full-fashioned knitting machine having needles, a fixed sinker-head, sinkers and dividers carried in said sinker-head, a catchbar, a slot in said catchbar in which said dividers are engaged, means for moving said catchbar transversely of said sinker-head to advance dividers, means for vertically moving said catchbar to engage said sinkers in said slot for movement with said dividers, and means for horizontally shifting said catchbar longitudinally of said sinker-head to change the points of engagement of said sinkers and dividers in said slot.

8. in a full-fashioned knitting machine having needles, a fixed sinker-head, sinkers and dividers carried in said sinker-head, means for advancing said sinkers between said needles, a catchbar, means for horizontally moving said catchbar transversely of said sinker-head to advance said dividers, means to operate said sinker advancing and catchbar moving means during each knitting cycle of the machine in combination with means for moving said catchbar longitudinally of said sinker-head in steps during knitting cycles of the machine.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,170,278 Richter Aug. 22, 1939 

